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Worcester chapter celebrates one year
It is incredible to think that just one year ago, we were only discussing the possibility of introducing the Boston Bulldogs Running Club to Worcester. Today, that conversation has evolved into a vibrant weekly run, dedicated Worcester leaders, and an impressive community presence.
Funding from ALL CARE Medical Supply, the Highwind Impact Fund, and the Reliant Foundation helped grow and sustain the nascent running group. Since launching on July 9th, 2025, we have gathered every Wednesday since at 6:30 PM.
Worcester by the Numbers:
- More than 60 members
- Dozens of presentations to recovery centers, clinics, AA groups, and sober living homes.
- An expanded Worcester contact list from 63 in January 2025 to 261 today.
- Six Worcester members have participated in our Full Circle orientation and training. Mary Kate DeForge and Rob Fissel are now part of the Leadership Team.
Special thanks to Bill Fredericks; Dr. Matilde Castiel - Worcester's former Commissioner for Health and Human Services; Steve Genatassion and the team at Sneakerama, Jane Rabbis; Kelly Collins; Anthony Bizzotto and the staff of Revive of the USA; Lake Avenue Recovery; the "Daily Choice" AA meeting at St. Bernard's Church; Brendan’s House; the Worcester Fire Department; and Howie Kahn of WPKZ radio.
The Club will celebrate the Worcester chapter's one-year anniversary at a WooSox game at Polar Park. Date to be announced. All Club members will be invited. Details to follow.
Jim Keane
Executive Director
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Amazing 11th annual Run for Recovery 5K & Tribute
The weather and turnout for this year’s Run for Recovery on May 17th at Franklin Park were spectacular! Jack Fultz - winner of the 1976 Boston Marathon and Grand Marshal of this year's Boston Marathon - started the race. He was joined by local running legends Becca Pizzi, Bob Hodge, and Gerard Ottaviano.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan - a long-time friend and advocate for the recovery community - led the post-race Tribute portion of the day. She was followed by Lauren Kennedy's poignant remarks about her father's addiction and the pain of his loss. (read here)
The annual Run for Recovery 5K & Tribute brings people together each year to remember loved ones lost to addiction. It battles stigma; reminds us that recovery is possible; and underscores that we are not alone. Special thanks to the various family teams that formed to honor those lost but not forgotten, and to our RFR Planning Committee that made the event possible: Jim Keane, Meaghan Langlois, Jed Hresko, Andy Goldberg, Anne Marie Winchester, Patrick Caron, Ashley Coffey, and Kathy Quindley.
More than 500 runners and walkers registered and 25 companies and organizations participated in the festival portion of the day. 13 sponsors donated $2,500 or more; 10 Club Friends donated $1,000 or more and 20 companies and organizations donated significant in-kind gifts. Photos & videos of the event - courtesy of James McCabe and others - are posted on our website. Feel free to download and share any of these pictures on social media---and don't forget to tag the Boston Bulldogs!
| | Bulldogs take on the 130th Boston Marathon! | | A HUGE thank you and shout-out to all 17 members of the Boston Bulldogs Boston Marathon Charity Team who ran this year's 130th BAA Boston Marathon on April 20th! They were joined by an additional 18 friends, family members and allies who either ran officially or on behalf of another worthy charity. Our 17-member charity team trained for five cold, icy months raised over $200,000 to support the vital programs of the Boston Bulldogs Running Club. All runners completed the race. Thank you to the Boston Athletic Association for helping to make this happen! | | |
Bulldogs awarded $75,000
Cummings Foundation grant
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On June 1, the Boston Bulldogs Running Club was selected as a recipient of a $75,000 grant over three years from the Cummings Foundation’s annual $35 million grant program. We were chosen through a highly competitive review process from a record-breaking pool of 959 applicants. This multi-year funding will allow us to expand our long-term programming and scale our community support initiatives.
"This multi-year, unrestricted funding is a game-changer for our community," said Dr. Jim Keane, Executive Director of the Boston Bulldogs Running Club. "The Cummings Foundation’s generous support validates our mission and, more importantly, gives us the long-term momentum to expand our wellness programs and reach more individuals and families healing from addiction."
| | They Run....AND They Fish! | On June 6th, ten Club members participated in a day of fly-fishing on the Deerfield River with Adam’s Parachute, a nonprofit that introduces individuals affected by addiction to the therapeutic benefits of fly fishing. Founded by Dr. Jim Faust in honor of his son Adam, the program uses the meditative nature of fishing to foster mindfulness, reduce anxiety, and build community for individuals in recovery, support networks, and frontline workers. Thank you, Adam's Parachute, for sponsoring this free event for our members! | |
Running Scene Magazine: "More than a Running Club"
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Get your Boston Bulldogs Running Club summer gear! Shorts, tanks, hats, and more are now available. Click on items in the online store to view all color options.
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How to Order: Visit the Marathon Sports Online Store
- T-Shirts & Hoodies are available separately. Text Meaghan at 508-381-9603 to order these items.
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Deadline: The online store closes on July 1st, so get your swag today!
| | For the third consecutive year, the Greater Boston Council on Alcoholism (GBCoA) has awarded grant funding to the Boston Bulldogs Running Club. This year’s funding will directly support our Leadership program. By renewing this grant, the GBCoA validates our work on behalf of individuals navigating addiction recovery, as well as their family members, friends, and allies. Learn more at the GBCoA Website. | | The Bulldogs have also received a second, three-year grant from the Cabot Corporation Foundation! As one of only a handful of "anchor" organizations supported by Cabot Corporation, this grant deepens our powerful 11-year partnership. Cabot has been a dedicated annual sponsor of our Boston Marathon charity team and our Run for Recovery 5K and Tribute. They also field impressive teams of runners and walkers each May! Thank you, Cabot Corporation, for running alongside us and supporting the recovery community! | | | | |
Beacon Hill Athletic Clubs have partnered with us to offer a free, 6-week strength training series at the Brookline location.
- When: Wednesdays at 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Timeline: Running weekly from now until July 15th. (No class on July 1)
Get a spot by emailing: meaghan@bostonbulldogsrunning.org
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For the third consecutive year the Boston Bulldogs will be part of the Falmouth Road Race Benefactor Program. Ten generous individuals will be running Falmouth to raise funds for the Boston Bulldogs.
Join us in cheering on our charity team and all the other Bulldogs who will be running that day in Falmouth on Sunday, August 16th!
| | | | | The Bulldogs will be participating in the TARC Fall Classic on Saturday, September 5, and you’re invited to join! Held annually at Great Brook Farm State Park, the TARC Fall Classic offers 10K, half marathon, 20-mile, 50K, and 50-mile distance options, the Yeti Mischief Mile, and the free youth fun run. All event proceeds support local groups and initiatives focused on outdoor access and land stewardship. Register here. | | NamaStay Sober partners with Bulldogs | The Boston Bulldogs have partnered with NamaStay Sober for a summer Yoga for Runners series. Three talented yoga instructors visited our weekly runs in Worcester, Plymouth, Chestnut Hill and Quincy to teach a class. The Bulldogs and NamaStay Sober will also co-host a pop-up run at Revere Beach, "Go & Flow" on July 18 at 8:30am (220 Revere Beach Boulevard). | | An evening with Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. | | The Bulldogs were invited by Rosemary Powers, Dr. Tom Ryan, and Matt Fitzsimons of Cristo Rey Boston High School in Dorchester for a special presentation by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. on June 2. Father Greg is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. | | Full Circle puts best foot forward | | |
The Bulldogs teach members how to improve their running and learn more about the Club through two vital, structured programs called Full Circle I and Full Circle II.
These 6-to-8-week sessions run continuously throughout the year and culminate in a celebratory 5K or 10K run. Full Circle helps our members achieve specific running and wellness goals. This past April, the Road Runners Club of America recognized our Full Circle programs as the best new runner program in the nation!
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On Saturday, June 6th, Coach Mike Ferullo, founder of the Boston Bulldogs, shared words of wisdom at our weekly run in Chestnut Hill.
He touched on our three core principles—Self-leadership, Transparency, and Giving Back—and emphasized the importance of integrating them into daily life.
He reminded us to love ourselves through the good, the bad, the tough, and the mundane. If we let go of fear and show courage, confidence will always follow!
| | Each year members of the Boston Bulldogs participate in over 130 different "Giving Back" opportunities at soup kitchens, shelters, recovery centers and community events. On June 18th, members of the Club supported the annual Road to the Right Track Kayak Night at Paddle Boston in Allston, MA. On Friday June 12, Bulldogs visited Charles River Recovery for to share the importance of running and community in the process of recovery. | Bulldogs documentary film to screen on Cape | Join the Bulldogs on the evening of Thursday, July 16th at LCTV Studios in Orleans, MA for a special screening of the highly acclaimed Boston Bulldogs documentary film produced and directed by Bryan and Jack Cote. The film received accolades at the Toronto, LA, and Cannes Film Festivals. A follow-up panel discussion will introduce the Cape audience to the Bulldogs and to the organization's efforts to support individuals in recovery, as well as their friends, family members and allies, through running and community. This is a free event. Please register here. | |
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The Boston Bulldogs organize six runs each week:
Mondays at 6:30pm at the Thomas Crane Library in Quincy, MA
Tuesdays at 6:30pm at Nelson Park in Plymouth, MA
Wednesdays at 6:30pm at Lake Quinsigamond State Park, Worcester, MA (283 Lake Avenue, across from Bufone State Ice Arena).
Thursdays at 6:30 pm and Saturday mornings at 9 am at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir (meet in the DCR Reilly Memorial parking lot A at 355 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, MA)
Sunday trail runs at 8:30am (The location changes each week -- check the Facebook members page or the Heylo app for information)
Community, physical activity and wellness are important tools for recovery and for life. Join us! We welcome runners, walkers and all those adversely affected by drug and alcohol addiction—people in recovery as well as their friends, caregivers, supporters and allies.
At each weekly run, announcements, a wellness tip and fellowship are shared. New members get the chance to introduce themselves and meet others. This is what a run looks like. Just show up!
| | Calling all Bulldogs! JOIN US! | | | | |
Join the Boston Bulldogs Running Club or renew your current annual membership! Annual membership fees are $50 for individuals and $75 for households of 2-4 people.
If you are in financial need, simply apply as a "sponsored member" on the application form and we will waive the fee.
Also, consider sponsoring a member in need. Donations are used to cover t-shirts, jackets, hats, running shoes, gear, and race fees.
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Email Jim Keane at jimk@bostonbulldogsrunning.org for information about how you, your company, friends or colleagues can support our programs and signature events. Your donations directly support our outreach efforts and vital programs such as weekly runs, member support, Full Circle, Leadership, Giving Back, and the Junior Bulldogs.
To donate online, please visit the link below or send a check made payable to Boston Bulldogs Running Club to:
The Boston Bulldogs Running Club
675 VFW Parkway, Suite 408
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3656
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Spread the good word about the Boston Bulldogs!
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www.bostonbulldogsrunning.org
info@bostonbulldogsrunning.org
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